RTP, Volatility or Bonus Features: How Players Really Choose Their Next Slot

With the huge range of casino slot games to choose from, finding a new and exciting game to play is no challenge. If you want to try out a new genre of game, there are almost unlimited choices or if you are looking for a game with different types of bonus features to the games you’re playing, there is no shortage of options either.

But what is the main driver behind choosing the next slot to play? Engaging visuals might grab attention but experienced casino players are generally looking way beyond this. With AI generated recommendations, the casino platform can take the work out of the decision by displaying games that are likely to appeal to your usual preferences.

However, many players prefer to do their own research to find the game that meets their current priorities, rather than playing games that are similar to their previous favourites. Their choice might be based on the volatility of the game, the RTP (Return to Player) or the bonus features available.

We dissect these three decision drivers to analyse how players really choose their next slot:

Matching Volatility Levels to Individual Preferences

While the theme and graphics of a game influences engagement, the volatility level has a stronger impact on how playing the game makes a player feel. Volatility dictates the frequency and size of payouts and players who like to experience bigger dopamine spikes often prefer high volatility games.

The chance of winning a large jackpot is a major motivation for some players so when they are reviewing their choice of slots to play, they will search for games that fall into the high volatility category, even though this means wins will usually be less frequent.

For other players, the risk of going on a long losing streak takes enjoyment out of playing games, so they will steer towards games that give them a more comfortable experience that is within their risk appetite. Low volatility games have more frequent but smaller payouts and provide smaller, regular dopamine hits.

To find games that match volatility preferences, casinos including the Tikal Casino usually have sections or game categories that separate high volatility games from the rest, so that players can go directly to the games that meet their needs.

The RTP Percentage Meets Player Preferences

Some casino players are driven by the percentage of returns that a game is expected to pay out. Those who like to base their decisions around the mathematics behind payout systems are likely to make the choice based on whether the RTP is higher or lower than average.

Games with a high RTP are designed to provide higher returns and players who are more cautious about losing money often prefer the lower risk of high RTP games. As an example, if a game has a 98% RTP, over time, the game should return £98 for every £100 staked.

However, if the game has a high volatility, it may take longer for the fluctuations to balance out and match the 98%. So, players will usually take both the RTP and the volatility into account, and players with a low risk preference will opt for low volatility and high RTP games.

Desire to Try New Bonus Features

A player could ignore RTP and volatility completely if they are driven by a curiosity to try out exciting bonus features. Many games have bonus features that form the most exciting part of the game, while others have features that are less appealing.

Some games offer progressive bonuses and the player is rewarded for continuing to play by unlocking new rewards. A player might be drawn to a game because there is a higher number of bonus features such as wild symbols, multipliers and expanding symbols.

Bonus rounds provide a different game experience to simply spinning reels and getting onto a bonus round is often the main route to winning bigger prizes.

Players who are starting to feel a game is getting boring will often make the decision for their next slot based on what the bonus features offer. If the priority is around entertainment more than returns, bonus features are likely to be the deciding factor.

Players who want to better understand how modern slot features influence gameplay can explore our complete guide to slot features.

Conclusion: What is the Main Driver?

In reality, the majority of players will look at all three of these areas when deciding which slot to play next. However, players who are less concerned about the risk levels may not prioritise RTP and volatility as highly and will focus more on whether the bonus features add more excitement.

There are other considerations too, such as whether the game is supplied by a game provider the player likes or whether they are drawn towards the game theme, so there is more than one factor that usually goes into the thought process.